Thursday, June 24, 2010

Five Days 'Til Take-Off

For the Harrington's, a year has dwindled to months, months have dwindled to weeks and weeks have now dwindled to days. The most recent days have included moments of elation and excitment, preceeded or followed by fear and frustration.

A glimpse of the emotions bombarding the Harrington hearts and minds these last days. Fortunately, the Harrington's are not the first to travel the world, nor the only traveller's in the family and they therefore have much to learn from these other sojourner's. One traveller is Mike's cousin Julianna who is conducting reasearch throughout the continent of Africa. She too is a blogger and recently posted her emotions regarding leaving and arriving which can be read in full here. However, it was the end quote/prayer that Melissa Harrington clung to and found the greatest peace in reading. We here at The Harrington Time's send forth the couple with those same words:

Blessed are You, Lord our God,For You have created a wide and wonderful world in which we can travel.

We ask Your blessings upon Mike and Melissa as they are about to leave on a trip.May You, Hold Guide of Travelers, be their ever-near companion,spreading the road before them with beauty and adventure.Free that road from harm and evil,and send as their escorts Your holy spirits, Your angelic messengers, who accompanied the holy ones of days past.

On this journey, may they take with them as part of their traveling equipmenta heart wrapped in wonder with which to rejoice in all they shall meet.

Along with that clothing of wonder, may they have room in their luggage for a mystic map.With the aid of this map, may they read the invisible meanings of the events of this journey—of possible disappointments and delays, of possible breakdowns and rainy day troubles.Always awake to Your sacred Presence and to Your divine compassionate love,they shall see in all that happens, in the beautiful and the bad, the mystery of Your holy plan.

May the blessing of God be upon you throughout this trip; may it shield you from all harm and bring you home again in safety and in peace.